The rivalry between the United States and China is reshaping the foundations of international relations and the global economy. From contested supply chains to divergent technological standards and mounting security concerns, the competition between the world’s two largest powers is no longer confined to diplomacy and defense—it directly affects corporate strategies, investment flows, and business resilience. For companies operating in this fragmented world, understanding the implications of this rivalry has become a strategic necessity.

To address this challenge, the ESSEC Institute for Geopolitics & Business has launched a Tricontinental Dialogue. Drawing on ESSEC’s unique footprint in Europe, Africa, and Asia, this initiative fosters a cross-continental conversation between business leaders, policymakers, and academics, offering a comparative and forward-looking perspective on how companies can navigate a fractured global order.

The Dialogue unfolds in three stages:

• A European Conference, held on ESSEC’s Cergy campus in September 2025, brought together 330 participants, seven high-level keynote speakers, and media partner L’Express.
• An African Conference, to be hosted at ESSEC Africa in Rabat in April 2026, will explore how African economies and businesses adapt to great-power competition.
• An Asian Conference, scheduled for June 2026 at ESSEC Asia Pacific in Singapore, will conclude the Dialogue by examining Asia’s pivotal role at the heart of US–China tensions.

Through this tricontinental approach, the Institute seeks to provide global business leaders with rigorous insights and actionable perspectives on navigating geoeconomic rivalry in an era of profound transformation.